President Akufo-Addo has strongly denounced the recent remarks made by former President John Dramani Mahama on the judiciary, as he called on Ghanaians to reject Mahama’s bid for presidency in 2024.
Speaking at the 23rd Ghana Bar Association Annual Conference on Monday, September 11, 2023 in Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo labeled Mahama’s comments as “extremely dangerous” threat to the independence of the judiciary.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the significance of the issue, stating, “Not only are these concepts of ‘NPP’ and ‘NDC’ judges new in our public discourse, but are also extremely dangerous.”
The President stressed that such ideas presented a grave attack on the judiciary’s independence, making it imperative for citizens to oppose the return of a politician responsible for such actions.
The President drew attention to the ongoing unresolved Airbus bribery scandal, where Mahama has been identified as “Government Official No. 1” by the first Special Prosecutor. This added another reason, in President Akufo-Addo’s opinion, for citizens to ensure Mahama’s defeat in the upcoming 2024 elections because of the massive corruption in the Airbus scandal where Ghana was scammed several million pounds.
Mahama had earlier addressed the 3rd Annual Lawyers Conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Akosombo where he urged NDC-aligned lawyers to prepare for future judicial appointments, aiming to “balance out what the current situation is.”
He criticised President Akufo-Addo for appointing a significant number of judges, accusing the current government of packing the court in order to evade accountability.
Responding to Mahama’s remarks, President Akufo-Addo expressed concerns over the claim that the current administration has appointed a large number of judges.
He pointed out that Mahama’s call for NDC lawyers to join the bench was an attempt to counteract the alleged imbalance he believes exists within the judiciary: “We must be prepared as NDC legal persons to also go onto the bench so that we can balance out the judiciary,” Mahama said.
President Akufo-Addo called for unity among citizens in defending the independence of the judiciary, emphasising that the appointment of judges should be based on merit rather than political affiliations.
He underlined the importance of a fair and independent judiciary as the backbone of a democratic society.
“Not only are these concepts of ‘NPP’ and ‘NDC’ judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous, and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic. They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal,” he added.